Global PC Market Shrinking Further

Worldwide shipments of personal computers totaled 64.8 million units in the first quarter of 2016. That’s a decline of 9.6 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year. “This was the sixth consecutive quarter of PC shipment declines, and the first time since 2007 that shipment volume fell below 65 million units,” according to market researcher Gartner.

It doesn’t look like the global PC market will find its way back to its glory days. Political and economic turmoil in Latin America has impacted on sales there. Also, the strength of the Dollar against other currencies has taken its toll. But those explanations can’t hide the overall trend towards using other devices, such as tablets and smartphones that are very attractive to consumers in developing countries.

The downturn across all markets is permanent. “Worldwide PC shipments declined for the fourth consecutive year, which started in 2012 with the launch of tablets,” the Gartner report concludes. Gartner predicts an overall shipment decline of 1 percent for 2016, with potential for a light recovery later in the year. The data includes desktop PCs, notebook PCs, and ultramobile premium devices.